Spill proof container cap

ABSTRACT

A spill resistant cap includes a normally closed membrane. The membrane normally restricts a flow through the cap. The membrane includes a cut or slice through the membrane. The cut or slice is preferably and “X”. When pressure is applied to a volume below the membrane and when vacuum is applied to a volume above the membrane, the “X” opens outward, and a flow is allowed to pass through the resulting opening.

The present application claims the priority of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/847,847 filed Sep. 27, 2006, which applicationis incorporated in it's entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to container caps and in particular to acontainer cap which reduces or prevents spilling.

A need exists for a sport closure, as used on beverage containers, whichprevents or minimizes the everyday drips, leaks and spills that are socommon with the cover in the open position. Self sealing valves havebeen developed to provide a positive seal to fluid openings (U.S. Pat.No. 6,279,783 Seaquist). Experience shows such valves to have threenotable short comings: cost; not allowing a satisfying quantity ofbeverage to be drawn from the vessel; and not allowing equalizing air toreenter the vessel to replace the liquid volume removed.

A design also exist with a positive seal valve on the fluid opening andon a vent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,706 Alcoa). This design potentiallyallows equalizing air to enter the vessel, but is even more expensivethan the Seaquist closure and is possibly too complex to manufacture.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing asolution to the three fold problems of low cost, unrestricted draw andno spill. By utilizing features of Young, U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,694, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/260,071 and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/786,291, which define a non pouring vented closure, it is notnecessary to have expensive self sealing valves. The problem then issimplified to preventing surging of beverage from the fluid opening. The'694 patent, and '071 and '291 applications are herein incorporated byreference in their entirety.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided spillresistant container cap including a passage, a normally closed membraneblocking the passage, and a slice through the membrane. The slice allowsthe membrane to open when pressure is applied to a volume below themembrane and when vacuum is applied to a volume above the membrane. Apreferred slice is an “X”.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following more particulardescription thereof, presented in conjunction with the followingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a cap including a spill proof membrane according to thepresent invention in a closed position.

FIG. 2 shows the spill proof membrane open to allow a flow through thecap.

FIG. 3 shows a three quarter view of the spill proof membrane.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a second spill proof membrane.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding componentsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated forcarrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in alimiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one ormore preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the inventionshould be determined with reference to the claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, a container cap 10 includes a thin plastic membrane12 obstructing a fluid passage 14. The membrane 12 has an “X” shape slitcut through the membrane 12. Other shaped cuts, for example, a “Y” orstar patterns may also be used, and preferably, the cuts aretwo-dimensional (i.e., not a straight line when viewed from above themembrane) so that at least one flap created by the slit opens underpressure from below or vacuum from above.

A second view of the cap 10 is shown in FIG. 2, with the membrane 12open under pressure of squeezing the bottle or drawing (vacuum) a drink,to allow release of the beverage.

Stiffening ribs (or contours) 16 residing on a surface of the membrane12 are shown in FIG. 3. The ribs 16 may further aid material flow acrossthe thin membrane 12 and to maintain alignment for closing by preventingthe membrane 12 sections from warping or taking a set from use.

Referring again to FIG. 3, it can be seen that membrane 12 forms thebottom of a recessed area defined by sidewall 20. The recessed area isshaped to provide hinges 18, for each section of the membrane.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a second spill proof membrane 12 a havinginwardly curved hinges 18 a and stiffening ribs 16 a. The combination ofthe curved ribs 18 a and the ribs 16 a results in an over centercondition in which the membrane 12 a is biased to a closed position andto an open position.

In tests, a Young closure modified to include the new membrane had a 90%to 95% reduction in spillage over an unobstructed Young closure or astandard push/pull sport top, while retaining the unique unrestrictedcontinuous flow offered by the Young vented design.

The membrane 12 is preferably from approximately 0.005 inches toapproximately 0.015 inches in thickness and preferably made ofpolypropylene or polyethylene, although other suitable flexiblematerials may be used. The fluid opening is preferably betweenapproximately 0.30 inches in diameter approximately 0.45 inches indiameter, but the effective opening is smaller because the presence ofmembrane 12 greatly reduces the actual open area of the fluid opening.

The integral membrane configuration and thickness is designed to bemolded as part of the cap 10, although it could also be affixed to thecap 10 after molding as a separate piece.

The advantages of the present invention include:

-   No spill, No dribble, No pour, or reduces spill, reduced dribble or    reduced pour;-   Simple one piece construction with valve molded in;-   Unequaled function and ease of use; and-   Cost significantly less than valved tops.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means ofspecific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modificationsand variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

1. A spill resistant container cap comprising: a passage; a normallyclosed membrane blocking the passage; and a slit through the membrane toallow the membrane to open when pressure is applied to a volume belowthe membrane and when vacuum is applied to a volume above the membrane.2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the slit is two-dimensional when viewedfrom above the membrane.
 3. The cap of claim 1, wherein the slit is an“X”.
 4. The cap of claim 1, wherein the slit results in at least oneflap in the membrane opening when pressure is applied to a volume belowthe membrane and when vacuum is applied to a volume above the membrane.